PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Melvin The Sniper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darien Michaels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

The Sniper
vs
Michaels

189 cm
24
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
183 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Melvin The Sniper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Darien Michaels!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Edson Gomes and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from The Sniper is defended easily by Michaels.
The Sniper throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Michaels closes the distance and clinches up with The Sniper, looking for a takedown. Michaels pushes The Sniper against the cage but The Sniper circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
The Sniper throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
The Sniper looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Michaels shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. The Sniper is trying to defend but Michaels finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The Sniper is trying to get back to full guard.
Michaels sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Michaels should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels is looking to stall here but The Sniper recovers full guard.
The Sniper manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Michaels manages to get himself to full guard.
The Sniper controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The Sniper would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The Sniper trying to control the position from guard on top but Michaels is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michaels has control of The Sniper's left arm, preventing The Sniper from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The Sniper has gone for a leg lock! Michaels slips out almost immediately though and dives into The Sniper's guard.
The Sniper wants to stand and escape but Michaels is having none of it.
Michaels wants to pass the guard but The Sniper is keeping the position.

The Sniper throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The Sniper will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michaels wants to control from the top but The Sniper keeps moving.
Michaels postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Michaels trying to control but The Sniper is working from the bottom.
The Sniper is trying to control the position but Michaels postures up.
The Sniper wants to get back to his feet but Michaels is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Michaels is looking to work some ground and pound but The Sniper has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The Sniper working a defensive guard here.
Michaels trying to control the position from guard on top but The Sniper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The Sniper working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Michaels doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Michaels manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Michaels distracts The Sniper with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Michaels is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Michaels must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The Sniper not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Darien Michaels will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

The Sniper scores with a punch to the head.

Michaels shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in The Sniper's guard.
The Sniper is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Melvin The Sniper wasn't doing enough on the ground.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Michaels.
The Sniper with a poor takedown

and Michaels decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in The Sniper's guard.
Michaels really doesn't want to stay on the ground with The Sniper. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaelsis looking to pass into half guard but The Sniper pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now The Sniper is in guard.
Michaels wants to sweep but no luck.
Michaels keeping moving, preventing The Sniper from controlling successfully.
The Sniper throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Michaels works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The Sniper trying to control but Michaels is working from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Melvin The Sniper.
Michaels tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but The Sniper swivels and escapes.
Michaels avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Michaels shoots in looking for a takedown but The Sniper manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Michaels's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Melvin The Sniper has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darien Michaels.
Michaels fails with a takedown attempt.
The Sniper looks for the body kick but Michaels saw that one coming.

Michaels closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. The Sniper did well to prevent Michaels getting side control.
The Sniper moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michaels trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Michaels avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Michaels controls from within his opponent's guard.
The Sniper is trying to keep Michaels in close.
The Sniper keeping full guard, as Michaels tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The Sniper keeping moving, preventing Michaels from controlling successfully.
The Sniper is trying to keep Michaels in close.
Michaels stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. The Sniper swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

We're going to have a standup here because Melvin The Sniper wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
The Sniper misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Michaels.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The Sniper shoots in for a double leg but Michaels sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Darien Michaels will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Michaels scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Michaels controls the position from side control.
Michaels working away.
Michaels is trying to move to mount but The Sniper reverses beautifully and ends up in Michaels's guard.
Michaels trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels seems keen to control The Sniper's posture.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Michaels feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The Sniper wants to sweep but no luck.
The Sniper is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The Sniper wants to lay and pray for a moment but Michaels keeps working.
Michaels is trying to control but The Sniper passes into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michaels tries to buck The Sniper off but The Sniper is having none of it.
The Sniper controls the position from side control.
Michaels is trying to get back to half guard.
Michaels is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Sniper wants to control but Michaels is keeping him busy.
The ground and pound from The Sniper seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
The Sniper wants to control but Michaels is keeping him busy.

The Sniper has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Michaels leaves The Sniper with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Michaels shoots in for a takedown but The Sniper shows good takedown defense.
Darien Michaels is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The Sniper drives through with a takedown into guard.
Michaels is adopting a defensive guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Michaels keeping moving, preventing The Sniper from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Darien Michaels.
I've got Michaels winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Darien Michaels!